In relation to a new software-defined satellite (SDS) to be positioned at 119.5° East orbital slot over Asia, Eutelsat Communications announces that its subsidiary Eutelsat Asia PTE. LTD. has signed a partnership agreement with Space Tech Innovation Limited (STI), a subsidiary of Thaicom, a leading Asian satellite operator. Eutelsat will broaden its service across the continent as a result of this partnership. Half of the new satellite's capacity will be leased and operated by Eutelsat for duration of satellite's life.

 

The cutting-edge geostationary SDS, one of a new generation of satellites that provide instant in-orbit adjustment and seamless reconfiguration, will be purchased by STI. It will maximize the use of the in-orbit resources for the benefit of the operator and the customer. The delivery date is set for calendar year 2027.

 

To meet region's growing need for connectivity, Eutelsat will increase capacity of its in-orbit assets by almost 50 Gbps through use of this satellite. The performance of the SDS, along with its great degree of flexibility in terms of coverage, bandwidth distribution, and power levels, will guarantee users of Eutelsat throughout Asia with a level of service that is unmatched. It will be completely compatible with GEO/LEO multi-orbit strategy used by Eutelsat and OneWeb.

 

Eva Berneke, Chief Executive Officer of Eutelsat Communications commented: “This strategic partnership with Thaicom to leverage the 119.5° East position, perfectly located to address the entire Asian region, represents a great opportunity for Eutelsat as well as an innovative investment approach. We are confident in Thaicom’s experience as a leading satellite operator in Asia with over 30 years’ experience in the industry and its expertise in the Asia-Pacific market. This new generation satellite, fully compatible with our future LEO-GEO offer will enable Eutelsat to address the dynamic growth in connectivity demand in the region.”